Great Escape: St Patrick's Day, Mozart, and Metal

We're getting closer to St. Patrick's Day, and with that in mind, I chose some casual establishments where you can enjoy some good food and good drinks. Of course, I had to include a few traditional Irish taverns.

• First on the list is the . If you like beer, this is the place to visit. With dozens of beers to choose from, your biggest complaint will be deciding what to drink.

• The Part II Lounge offers a solid menu, drinks, and a game room to work off that Philly Cheesesteak.

• Ri Ra, located in downtown Providence, offers a fun atmosphere while you're enjoying dinner. They also have bands playing live almost every night.

• McFadden's prides itself on being a welcoming, casual establishment. It's a great place to share a drink and a bite to eat with a friend.

• What can you say about Blake's Tavern? They've been around for a while, with good reason. Good food, and a friendly atmosphere are just two of the reasons it has been around so long.

If you're still in the mood to celebrate, there are lots of diverse options, so you're bound to like something.

• On Saturday, Portuguese Eurodance band Santamaria will be performing at the Dunkin Donuts Center.  The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets start at $30. 

• If you're in the mood for some happy tunes, Die Another Day will be playing at Lupo's on Friday at 8pm. Tickets are $10 in advance.

• Comedian Wanda Sykes will be performing at the Providence Performing Arts Center Thursday night. The show begins at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $28.

• Do you want to see one of the greatest rock bands of all time? Maybe they'll tour during the summer. In the meantime, you can see The Guess Who at the Twin River Events Center this Saturday night. The show begins at 7:30, tickets start at $28.

• If you attend the Die Another Day show on Friday and are still in the mood for some music, the Rhode Island Philharmonic will be presenting Mozart at Veterans Memorial Auditorium Saturday at 8 p.m.  Tickets start at $39.